Writing with Commonly Confused Words

Writing with Commonly Confused Words

44mIntermediate2021-02-17

Authors

Mignon Fogarty

Mignon Fogarty

Founder of Quick and Dirty Tips Network and Grammar Girl

Course details

Have you ever had to cite a sight you saw while on site? English has many troublesome words that people commonly confuse, which can lead to misunderstandings, confusion, and embarrassment. Using the wrong word can affect your credibility and have an adverse effect on communication. In this course, Mignon Fogarty, better known as Grammar Girl, covers some of the most frequently misused words, from words that sound the same, like “compliment” and “complement,” to words with commonly misunderstood meanings, like “farther” and “further.” Learn how to write with more confidence, make fewer mistakes, and spend less time doubting how to use these tricky words.

Skills covered

WritingProfessional DevelopmentOne-Off

Concepts

Introduction

  • Confusing English words

Words that Sound the Same

  • 'A lot' or 'alot'
  • 'Affect' or 'effect'
  • 'Bated' or 'baited'
  • 'Capital' or 'capitol'
  • 'Cite,' 'sight,' or 'site'
  • 'Complement' or 'compliment'
  • 'Council' or 'counsel'
  • 'Desert' or 'dessert'
  • 'Foreword' or 'forward'
  • 'Gray' or 'grey'
  • 'Home' or 'hone'
  • 'Lightening' or 'lightning'
  • 'Principal' or 'principle'
  • 'Stationary' or 'stationery'

Words with Commonly Misunderstood Meanings

  • 'A' or 'an'
  • 'Anxious' or 'eager'
  • 'Bad' or 'badly'
  • 'Because' or 'due to'
  • 'I.e.' or 'e.g.'
  • 'Fewer' or 'less'
  • 'Farther' or 'further'
  • 'Hanged' or 'hung'
  • 'Hilarious' or 'hysterical'
  • 'Lay' or 'lie'
  • 'Loose' or 'lose'
  • 'Simple' or 'simplistic'
  • 'That' or 'which'
  • 'Who' or 'whom'

Conclusion

  • 'Bid adieu' or 'bid ado'
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